Birthday boy Thilanga launches ‘Wave Maker’
Author of the book, Daminda Wijesuriya is presented a copy while watched by chief guest Nelson Mendis - Pix by Rusiru Tharanga
Former Sri Lanka Cricket president Thilanga Sumathipala says that due to continuous political interference in sports administration has kept people in the calibre of Aravinda de Silva out of sports administration in the country.
He made these remarks at the launch of his book ‘Tharanaya’ and its English translation ‘Wave Maker’–which has documented Sumathipala’s contribution to Sri Lanka Cricket at a gala book launch held at a five-star hotel in Colombo. The book was authored by Daminda Wijesuriya–a veteran sports writer and the Sports Editor of the Lankadeepa newspaper after extensive research.
“When we made Aravinda de Silva a vice president of Sri Lanka Cricket, we thought he will take over after us. But it was not. There are extremely good calibre people of administration, management and marketing skills, but they won’t be able to walk in due to the current political interferences in the system,” Sumathipala, who turned 60 on Friday said.
“Most of Sports Ministers think they are the Minister of Cricket and forget all other sports. This is because cricket is so popular, they would like to have a hand in”.
The launch was attended by renowned coach Nelson Mendis and his wife as Chief Guest while Pakistan great Wasim Akram graced the occasion as guest of honour. Among those dignitaries present were former cricketers Aravinda de Silva, Kumar Dharmasena, Upul Tharanga and many other former cricket administrators and several politicians.
Sultan of Swing, Pakistani legend Wasim Akram presented a copy of the book by Thilanga Sumathipala
The book highlights Sri Lanka Cricket’s and Sumathipala’s involvement in getting all clear for Muttiah Muralidaran, the greatest off-spinner of all time, when he was accused of throwing, how Sumathipala fought against the ‘Big Three’ financial model of the ICC, how SLC supported Kusal Janith Perera when the batter was wrongly accused of doping and how SLC made a billion rupee profit by playing Nidahas Trophy in 2018.
Wasim Akram commenting at the forum that the book would be a game changer for all cricket administrators all over the world to learn how to back your players.
“I think this book will be a game changer for all Test administrators all over the world on how to back your players specially when things are not going well,” he remarked.